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Then Hubba bade the man Raud and his brother, a tall man who had come with the Jarl Ingvar, take charge of us until word should come from him, and then rode after Ingvar with the rest of the folk. "Come into the house," said Raud to me. "I fear you have ill news enough, though only what we have expected." So we went inside, and I sat in my old place beside the fire.

These he placed on the table, remarking, 'I ain't forgot as you drawed I out of the raud thuck night. I made him understand that such presents were too embarrassing; but he seemed anxious to do 'summat, so I asked him to find me a few ferns and rare plants. This he did from time to time; and thus a species of acquaintanceship grew up, and I learned all about him.

But Raud was close on me, and he dropped from his saddle on my shoulders as I passed him, so that I fell, half stunned under him, and one of the other men ran up, and ere they had stripped and bound the king to a tree, I was bound hand and foot, and rolled by Raud into a thicket where I might escape Ingvar's eye. And, indeed, he paid no heed to me, but watched the king.

"Let us go at once on this tide," I said, starting up. "Not so fast now, comrade," laughed Thormod. "Would you come again half starved, as last time, into the lady's presence?" Then I called Cyneward, but when he rose up and came to us, Thormod stared at him, crying: "You here, Raud! I thought you were with Ingvar." "Aye, Thormod, I am here at least Cyneward, who was Raud, is with Wulfric." "Ho!

"Then should he be in Lodbrok's house as a guest," said Raud stoutly, and free of speech as Danes will ever be. "Maybe he shall be so soon," said Ingvar. "I will bide with my first hosts," I said, not being willing to speak much of this just now.

Now of his own accord Raud faced to the eastward, and clasping his hands before him, spoke the words of the Creed, slowly and haltingly maybe, but with knowledge thereof, and all that little company, standing hushed until he ended, answered "Amen" with one voice.

I said, looking after the Danish king, who went, never turning in his saddle, with bowed shoulders as one who ponders somewhat. "How should I know?" answered Raud, carelessly. "Let us go on. Maybe if you come with me we shall hear them speak together." "Raud," I said, "if harm is done to the king, I shall surely fall on some of you and Ingvar first of all."

Now Raud must needs make me a spear from a tough ashen sapling that he had treasured for a long time, because that which I had used in the wolf hunt was sprung by the weight of one of the beasts, and while his hurts kept him away at his own house he wrought it, and at last brought it up to the hall to give to me.

Then was slain the bishop, who knelt at the altar, not even turning round to face the Danes as they came. So I hold ever that as I lay for dead I had seen those brave ones pass me even as they were slain. But of this I said naught to Raud, at that time at least. Now I asked Raud whence he had come, and he said: "From London."

Go with Raud to his house, and thence he and Rolf and Thoralf your shield man, who all love you, will take you even to Hedeby, where there are Christian folk who will help you to the sea and find passage to England. And fare you well, my brother, for the days we longed for in your land will never be " "Come in the ship to England, that so there may be good times even yet," I said.